Welcome to the courageous Strength card. Although this card seems to be pretty clear cut about it's meaning it is not an indicator of your mastery at the gym! This card is about mastery of our instinctual reactions, traditionally represented by a pet lion! Strength is a diplomatic card if ever there was one, and often indicates behaviour by others that could sorely test that skill! Adversity, however, is where Strength can truly shine.

 

Maybe you are already in a situation that could fray the temper of a saint, tempt a nun or terrify a monster! It is hard to know what to do with sudden emotion. Strength is not about consistently rolling over in response to unfair treatment. On the contrary, she is about standing up to it in all the right ways. Different situations call for different responses, but Strength is the card that refuses to accept provocation as a valid reason to engage. She is anything but reactionary, and she asks you to follow her lead.  She says 'you know what you don't want, so how to you focus on what you do want'?

 

As an archetype of the rational mind, she sees beyond the clamouring desire to rely solely on our instincts, and recognises the power of well timed retreat. This gives her significantly more influence when she does indeed choose to engage. So, if another is beyond seeing reason, then reason must go out for a lunch with someone who does!

 

It seems simple doesn't it? Yet, we all know how hard it is to put strength into practice when our blood runs hot. The voice of passion is after all, an essential part of our human make-up. This card can indicate that we need to dig deep, take a slow breath and refuse to let our instincts rule us. Often the real needs of our situation are hidden behind the noisy roar of immediate desires. And as this a Leo card, and the lion integral to it's definition, we need also to keep an eye on our pride. It will be an obvious target to our challengers, should we allow it to govern our reactions.

Our relationship with our lionish instincts needs to be in heathy communion. We don't want to bully our inner lion with cold insensitivity or over reaction or we will become separated from our inner reason and fail to see the bigger picture. Yet, we also don't want to let our discipline slip and have a wild animal on the loose! Instead, we must take control with calm authority and find a way to express ourselves with dignity. This can take courage. If we do our best to acknowledge and impart our feelings with a philosophical view, then we are engaging with our strength. This will enable us to bring reassurance and confidence to ourselves and our situation.

 

Negotiation and compassion are your strong suits under this card. You could be invaluable in helping bridge conflict, tame wild behaviour or confront fear. It's a great time to go for a promotion, have needs acknowledged or take a courageous step towards being the strong individual you know you are. This card can change your life, because once you recognise that your inner strength is found in self-love and self-respect, then nothing and nobody can take it from you.